Searching for short term contracts

**Murder1** · 7 October 2010, 14:22

I don't know of one, but you could try ringing around the agents and letting them know you're specifically looking for a really short term one.

If it's a 2 week contract are they going to waste another 2 listing on the job boards? More than likely the really short term don't get advertised instead they get offered to those already known to the agents.

**northernladuk** · 7 October 2010, 15:59

WHS. Get yourself on the agents books before the jobs come up, spam them with your CV and request you are added to their DB's. Make sure you have lots of keywords on the CV that relate to roles that require short term work. Problem is you can only put one CV in and it will have to be pretty generic as you won't have time to modify it to suit each role unless he gives you the opportunity to... but if it needs modifying it is most likely he will bin it and look for some that matches exactly. Bit of a viscious circle.

Question is firstly though do you have a set of skills that suits short term projects? This won't work for PM'ing. Not many people need a PM for 3 weeks.

Secondly you said you needed a contract quick in a different thread. Surely by taking a 3-6 week contract you are going to be back looking for a contract quick again. I am assuming you had been on bench too long and needed some cash. Focussing on such short term contracts I would have thought you would be out of work more than in so not really solving the original problem?

**The Agents View** · 7 October 2010, 16:25

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

WHS. Get yourself on the agents books before the jobs come up, spam them with your CV and request you are added to their DB's. Make sure you have lots of keywords on the CV that relate to roles that require short term work. Problem is you can only put one CV in and it will have to be pretty generic as you won't have time to modify it to suit each role unless he gives you the opportunity to... but if it needs modifying it is most likely he will bin it and look for some that matches exactly. Bit of a viscious circle.

Question is firstly though do you have a set of skills that suits short term projects? This won't work for PM'ing. Not many people need a PM for 3 weeks.

Secondly you said you needed a contract quick in a different thread. Surely by taking a 3-6 week contract you are going to be back looking for a contract quick again. I am assuming you had been on bench too long and needed some cash. Focussing on such short term contracts I would have thought you would be out of work more than in so not really solving the original problem?

You might not like this - but right now - take whatever is offered - perm, contract, fixed term, anything - money is money, and if you're desperate, that is the only get out of jail card.....

**Fred Bloggs** · 7 October 2010, 17:04

Originally posted by The Agents View View Post

You might not like this - but right now - take whatever is offered - perm, contract, fixed term, anything - money is money, and if you're desperate, that is the only get out of jail card.....

Sound advice.

**Oscar** · 8 October 2010, 04:48

geography

The main issue is geography. I don't want to go far (stay in a hotel) for a long time, but I can do it for a few months. And in some places the market it thinner, so that it can be easier to get in.

**Saddo** · 8 October 2010, 05:55

Originally posted by Oscar View Post

The main issue is geography. I don't want to go far (stay in a hotel) for a long time, but I can do it for a few months. And in some places the market it thinner, so that it can be easier to get in.

I'm afraid that Norman Tebbit was right about getting on your bike to find work. Whilst it is always nice to find a gig which is commutable, unless you have robust finances to see you through then staying away during the week isn't something you really have a choice over.

With respect to staying away in a hotel, have you considered other alternatives?

SPARE ROOM for flatshare, house share, flat share & rooms for rent

A hotel room is going to cost at least £40 a night, whereas finding something from the above web site could at least halve that cost.

**MarillionFan** · 8 October 2010, 06:17

Originally posted by Oscar View Post

The main issue is geography. I don't want to go far (stay in a hotel) for a long time, but I can do it for a few months. And in some places the market it thinner, so that it can be easier to get in.

Type the words 'short term' into Jobserve. That's what I always used to do. Then be prepared to travel

**northernladuk** · 8 October 2010, 08:55

Originally posted by Oscar View Post

The main issue is geography. I don't want to go far (stay in a hotel) for a long time, but I can do it for a few months. And in some places the market it thinner, so that it can be easier to get in.

Let me get this right...

You are desperate for a contract quickly (from previous post)
You want to search for short contracts only
You don't want to travel

Jeez man you are either the laziest contractor I have met or a pretty good sockie/troll...

Will wave at you at the free soup hand out as I drive to work in a couple of weeks.

Searching for short term contracts